The “Nintendo Museum,” where you can learn about the history of one of the world’s leading game manufacturers, Nintendo, will open in Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture, on October 2. It brings to life classic products such as the Family Computer (Famicom), which became a massive hit worldwide, and imaginative toys using the latest digital technology, making it a spot that families and groups can enjoy.
Reflecting on Nintendo from the Meiji Era
The Nintendo Museum is a facility that reflects on the history of Nintendo since its founding in 1889 (the 22nd year of the Meiji era) through various product displays and experiential games using the latest technology. It has been renovated from the company’s Uji Ogura factory.
The first floor features a space for interactive experiences combining hit products with digital technology. The second floor is an exhibition space with various products, including historic video game consoles and toys, organized by theme.
Exhibits by Console on the Second Floor
Take the escalator to the second floor. Upon entering the exhibition area, you will see model controllers of 12 different game consoles, from the home console Famicom released in 1983 to the latest Nintendo Switch, displayed on the ceiling at 9 times their actual size.
Under each model is a corner reflecting on each game console. There are various Japanese and North American versions of all the software Nintendo has released. The characteristics of each console, such as Game Boy and Wii, are also clearly explained.
A Lineup of Toys from the “Era of Challenges”
There is also a section titled the “Era of Challenges.” This area showcases products from Nintendo before the home console boom, featuring games like sugoroku, a variety of tabletop games, and toys using electronic devices. This shows that Nintendo has always been committed to creating products that entertain people.
There is also a section centered around “games that use the body to play.” While “Wii Fit,” which allows you to enjoy exercise and gaming using a balance board and controller, is fresh in memory, it becomes clear that health equipment for movement was released prior to it for connection to game consoles. Going further back, there are also analog toys like the imported Twister game which served as a precursor to exercise games.
Games and Toys Revived Digitally
The experiential area on the first floor is constructed around the concept of revitalizing past products with modern technology to see what kind of play they can provide. You can use 10 coins registered on your admission card to engage in fun activities while learning about Nintendo’s product development history.
Nintendo Museum admission pass. 10 coins for experiential menus are registered.
Immediately noticeable is the game experience corner “Big Controller,” featuring a gigantic controller that is 12 times larger than the real thing. Two people, working as a team, can operate these large controllers for historically significant products such as the Famicom, Super Famicom (1990), NINTENDO64 (1996), and Wii (2006) to re-experience games from those times.
The ‘Big Controller’ featuring huge controllers from historical game consoles.
For the Famicom, one person operates the directional pad, while the other handles the A and B buttons, working together to enjoy the experience. Boosting the character’s running speed using the B button and directional pad for a “B Dash” is possible. The Wii controller allows for full-body balance games.
In the “Nintendo Classic” corner, you can freely choose from over 80 nostalgic game titles to play.
There is also a corner where you can play the Game & Watch, the first portable game console released in 1980, on a large screen. Players can use their own shadow to operate two games: the first release “Ball” and the classic “Manhole.”
Controlling with user shadow in ‘Game & Watch SP’.
It is said that over 40 million units of Game & Watch have been sold. The cross button on Nintendo’s game controllers was first attached in “Donkey Kong” and has been passed down through generations due to its excellent operability. The museum also has a display corner for all game consoles.
A Corner that Reflects Nintendo’s Origins
Nintendo is a long-established company that started as a hanafuda card manufacturer during the Meiji era. Before focusing on video games, its main products included hanafuda, playing cards, the traditional Japanese card game Hyakunin Isshu, and creatively devised toys. An experiential display that lets visitors feel this origin is “Shigure-den SP.” Players use a dedicated smartphone to compete for Hyakunin Isshu cards projected on a giant screen on the floor.
The name “Shigure-den” is derived from a display facility called “Hyakunin Isshu Hall – Shigure-den,” located in Arashiyama, Kyoto, which Nintendo was deeply involved with. It can be said that this facility has been revitalized within the Nintendo Museum.
Enjoying Hyakunin Isshu with up to 25 people in “Shigure-den SP”.
Competing for Hyakunin Isshu cards projected on the floor using a dedicated smartphone.
In the craft room within the museum, there are also reservations available for experiencing the creation of hanafuda cards. You can choose your favorite pattern from a special kit, paint it, and complete your hanafuda. Furthermore, using digital technology, there is also a competitive corner where foreign tourists and beginners can enjoy hanafuda.
Colors are layered using stencils to create a hanafuda design in the ‘Let’s make hanafuda’ corner.
Experiencing Analog Toys Again in Fun Ways
There is also an area to experience past toys. The “Ultra Hand,” a hit product from 1966 that stretches and contracts by manipulating with your hands, allows visitors to enjoy a game where they use it to grab a ball and drop it into a pipe.
Experience the hit product ‘Ultra Hand’ in ‘Ultra Hand SP.’ Objects to grab include Pokémon’s Poké Balls.
Another challenging toy known for its creative concept is the “Love Tester,” released in 1969. It uses a device that detects the weak electrical current flowing through a person’s body to measure the romantic compatibility of a couple holding hands. This became a topic of conversation in Japan, where hand-holding in public was often frowned upon at the time.
In the museum’s “Love Tester SP,” two people can challenge various tests to increase their “love level” according to the instructions on the screen.
Can you measure intimacy? The ‘Love Tester’ revived with the latest technology.
Return to Childhood and Relieve Stress!
Additionally, the mini-batting machine “Ultra Machine” (1968), which shoots ping pong balls electrically, is enjoyed in a room-like set with the batting corner “Ultra Machine SP,” and there is also a shooting game “Zapper & Scope SP” where you shoot enemies from the Mario series using a light gun that was popular in the 70s.
Break furniture and relieve stress by hitting balls! ‘Ultra Machine SP’ using a mini-batting machine.
Target Mario’s enemy characters with a light gun. An interactive experience on a large screen.
Editorial staff also experienced the games. When swinging fully in Ultra Machine SP, balls hit around the room, causing furniture to crash with a “Smash!” or electronics to light up. You might relieve stress by playing and returning to childhood. Shooting with the light gun at characters on the large screen in Zapper & Scope SP is extremely refreshing.
270,000 Combinations of Burgers
Inside the museum, there is a café called “HATENA BURGER.” The signature hamburger allows you to combine meat and ingredients using your smartphone to order your own unique version. It is said that there are over 270,000 combinations, and you can create a vegetarian menu or avoid allergenic ingredients.
HATENA BURGER’s hamburger. Choose your favorite ingredients and enjoy 270,000 flavors. There are also matcha drinks inspired by the local Uji City.
Valuing Play and Creativity
In a video introducing the “Nintendo Museum” on their official YouTube channel, Nintendo’s Representative Director Fellow Shigeru Miyamoto said, “Nintendo has created various entertainments over its history of more than 100 years since its founding. Although the products created have changed with the times, our desire for everyone to enjoy them together as a family has remained unchanged. The Nintendo Museum is a place where you can learn about Nintendo’s dedication to creating innovative products and valuing play and creativity.”
The front yard of the Nintendo Museum. The familiar world of Mario entertains visitors.
Nintendo has recently focused on experiential content businesses, including theme parks and movies, that utilize their popular characters and universes, in addition to creating game consoles and software. The Nintendo Museum could be a new origin for Nintendo.
Nintendo Museum
- Address: 56 Kagurada, Ogura-cho, Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture
- Opening Hours: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM (Admission until 4:30 PM)
- Closed: Tuesdays (Wednesdays if a holiday), New Year’s period
- Admission Fees: Adults 3300 yen, Junior and Senior High School Students 2200 yen, Elementary School Students 1100 yen, Preschoolers free
- Tickets: Advance reservation required (lottery system 3 months in advance)
* Entry in cosplay or disguise is not allowed
* Photos, except for those provided by Nintendo, were taken by Tomoyuki Fujiwara and Soichi Matsumoto of Nippon.com editorial staff.
Banner Photo: Enjoying Nintendo’s home game consoles with family and friends in “Big Controller.” The Nintendo Museum offers various gaming experiences.